The Best Flowers for Bees

Bees and flowers have mutually beneficial relationships. Flowers provide nectar or pollen bees need, and bee pollination helps flowers produce fruit and seeds. Wind plays a role in pollinating some plants, but many garden blooms depend exclusively on bees.

Nonnative bees, such as honeybees, are important pollinators, but native bees in all shapes and sizes play vital roles. Different bee species have distinct flower preferences, but some features attract all types of bees. By planting flowers with one or many of these qualities, you support bees and boost your garden's productivity.

Bloom Size and Shape

Some bees specialize in flower types, while others visit all blooms. Anatomy influences flowers' preferences. Some bees, including honeybees and native bumblebees, access nectar with long tongues, but other bees have short tongues. Flat, shallow blossoms simplify nectar sipping for long- and short-tongued bees.

Aster family (Asteraceae) members, such as annual sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea, USDA zones 3 through 8) provide easy landing and open faces for all bees -- along with abundant nectar and pollen.

Nectar Production

Nectar provides foraging bees with food in the form of sugar, essential amino acids and needed moisture. Bees generally seek more nectar than pollen, so blocks of nectar-rich flowers keep bees content. Less travel between blooms means less energy expended.

Pollen Presentation

Bees gather pollen -- seen as orange-yellow saddle bags on their hind legs -- for the next bee generation. Pollen provides high-protein nutrition for bee offspring. Some flowers produce light pollen that floats on air. In others, it's dense and sticky. Without bee help, pollination would not occur.

Other types of native bees have specific, limited seasons. Adult bees are only active a few weeks each year. These active times vary by species. Bees that visit your garden in early spring differ from those that seek your blooms in fall.